HARTFORD, CT – After suffering a brutal loss in Utica to the Comets on Wednesday, the Hartford Wolf Pack continued their three game road trip on Saturday and Sunday. The Wolf Pack made their first visit to Charlotte this season for two games against the Checkers.
The Wolf Pack had a bounce-back performance in the Tar Heel State. Goaltenders Louis Domingue and Dylan Garand led the way, letting up just two goals over the weekend as Hartford took both games.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Charlotte Checkers 2 (OT)
The Wolf Pack made their first appearance in the Bojangles Coliseum of the season on Saturday. The game marked the Wolf Pack’s first in Charlotte since their triumph in Game Three of the first round of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs in April 2024.
Scanlin Strikes Twice
Brandon Scanlin opened the scoring just 1:08 into the contest. Blade Jenkins won an offensive zone draw, and the puck trickled back to Scanlin. The Hartford blueliner stepped into a drive that flew by Chris Driedger to break the ice.
Matthew Robertson took a tripping minor at 18:08 of the opening frame, sending the Checkers to the power play. Oliver Okuliar capitalized on the man advantage, jamming the puck by Domingue to tie the contest. The teams entered the first intermission tied at one.
Charlotte pressed heavily in the second frame, but Domingue was up to task. Garand denied all 16 shots he faced in the period, sending the game to the second intermission with the score still tied at one.
Scanlin finally broke the tie 7:10 into the third frame. Brett Berard corralled the puck in the right corner and snapped a cross-ice feed to Scanlin. Scanlin danced around Will Lockwood, worked his way to the slot, and sniped a shot by Driedger to put the Wolf Pack back in front.
The goal gave Scanlin his first multi-goal game as a pro.
However, the Checkers once again found the equalizer. John Leonard tied the game with just over five minutes to play in regulation, sneaking a backhand shot by Domingue. The goal eventually sent the game to overtime.
Ruh-winner
Both sides had great looks in the extra session. Charlotte controlled the puck with less than a minute to play. Justin Sourdif attempted to get around Jake Leschyshyn and shoot from the slot, but Brennan Othmann blocked the bid. Othmann, at the end of a shift, attempted to move the puck out of the Charlotte zone. However, Othmann instead found Chad Ruhwedel, all alone on the other side of the ice. Othmann slid a pass through the legs of a defender to spring Ruhwedel on a breakaway.
Ruhwedel powered into the Charlotte zone. Sourdif got back to cut off the lane to the net, so Ruhwedel opted to shoot from the right circle. Ruhwedel’s shot beat Driedger by the glove, delivering the win and the extra point to the Wolf Pack.
The goal was Ruhwedel’s first as a member of the Wolf Pack. The goal was also Ruhwedel’s first game-winning tally in the AHL since January 3rd, 2017 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. On that night, Ruhwedel potted a goal at 2:42 of the third period that stood as the game winner; ironically, the Wolf Pack were the opposing team in that contest.
Sunday – Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Charlotte Checkers 0
The division rivals met for a rematch on Sunday afternoon. The Checkers aimed to split the set, while the Wolf Pack sought back-to-back wins in Charlotte for the first time since the first round of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Belzy Breaks it Open
For the second time in as many nights, the Wolf Pack opened the scoring. Casey Fitzgerald shielded the puck from a Checker in the left corner and tapped it to Bo Groulx. Groulx sent the puck to Blake Hillman in the opposite corner, setting up the chance. As Hillman corralled the puck, Alex Belzile snuck behind the Charlotte defense and into the neutral zone.
Hillman fired a perfect stretch pass to Belzile, who then sped towards the Charlotte net. Belzile promptly snapped a shot by the glove of Ken Appleby to give the Wolf Pack a lead they’d never lose.
The goal was Belzile’s first point of an eventual three-point night.
Bo Blast
Groulx doubled the lead just before the 15 minute mark of the frame. Mikulas Hovorka took a delay of game penalty, sending the Wolf Pack to their third power play of the period.
On the ensuing power play, Berard found Belzile in the slot. However, Belzile opted to pass the puck to Groulx, stationed in the right circle. Groulx uncorked a shot that sailed by Appleby to double the Hartford lead.
The goal was Groulx’s 13th of the season, good for the team lead. Hartford took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Hill is Too Steep
The Wolf Pack got a pair of early power play bids in the second period. However, it would be Charlotte who got the best looks during the advantage.
With Riley Bezeau in the box for slashing, Leonard swiped the puck and sped towards the Hartford net on a shorthanded breakaway. Officials whistled for a penalty during the breakaway and awarded Leonard a penalty shot.
Leonard took the puck at center ice, weaved into the Hartford zone, and snapped a shot attempt on the five-hole. However, Garand made the stop to preserve the two-goal lead.
Meanwhile, Hartford pushed the lead to three late in the frame. Jenkins found the puck at neutral ice and slipped it to Belzile. Belzile fired a shot from beyond the right circle, but the bid went wide. The puck dribbled up the boards and back to Belzile, who sent it up top for Hillman. Finally, Hillman fired a shot through traffic that Appleby never saw.
Charlotte pushed in the final frame, firing 14 shots on Garand. However, the All-Star netminder denied all 14, earning his third shutout of the season as the Wolf Pack picked up a 3-0 win and swept the weekend.
No More Charlotte Flu?
Historically, the Wolf Pack have not matched up well with the Checkers. During the 2023-24 regular season, Charlotte won seven of the eight regular-season meetings between the teams.
Things have been even worse for the Wolf Pack in the Queen City. In fact, Hartford’s 5-0 win over Charlotte on January 10th, 2023 was their first ever regulation win in North Carolina.
However, as of late, fortunes have favored the Wolf Pack in the matchup. The Wolf Pack have won all four matchups between the teams so far this season. They’ve also come out victorious in their last four games at the Bojangles Coliseum, dating back to Game Two the first round of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs in April 2024.
Wolf Pack fans formerly referred to the Bojangles Coliseum as “Fort Never Win,” alluding to Hartford’s struggles in the building. Now, however, it seems as though Fort Never Win has been conquered.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack return to the XL Center on Friday, welcoming the Laval Rocket back to town. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
